In Every Walk With Nature Rhetorical Analysis

“In every walk with nature one receives far more than he seeks.” In the passage titled “Prose,” Emerson conveys a positive and woke attitude towards nature through figurative language, comparison, and contrast. Emerson shows his positive attitude towards nature using figurative language. For example, Emerson says “Nature never wears a mean appearance.” This quote shows that nature is kind and accepting of all. He also says “In the presence of nature a wild delight runs through the man, in spite of real sorrows. Nature says, ‘He is my creature, and maugre all his impatient griefs, he shall be glad with me.’” In this quote Emerson explains that the feelings of happiness nature brings are so strong they outshine man’s real problems and stresses. It also shows that he sees nature as all consuming and if you let it, it will consume a person fully and bring them great peace.

He compares a person’s communication with heaven and earth to their daily food. “His intercourse with heaven and earth becomes part of his daily food.” Emerson expresses that a person’s connection with the planet and everything it has to offer is just as important as one of a person’s main necessities to live. Emerson also compares a man’s age to a snake shedding its skin. “In the woods, too, a man casts off his years, as the snake his slough and at what period soever of life is always a child. In the woods is perpetual youth.” This quote shows that nature can make a person feel young. Man sheds off his older years the same as a snake sheds its skin. Nature can make a person feel new and